Photographic finder



' Oct. 30, 1934. H. R. HOWSER, JR

PHOVTOGRAPHIG FINDER Filed MaICl l5, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet l R.Howser Jr.

@@@TMQH Oct. 30, 1934. H. R. HowsER, JR

PHOTOGRAPHIC FINDER Filed March 15 1934 SM l oct. 30, 1934.

H. R. HOWSER, JR

PHOTOGRAPHIC FINDER Filed March l5, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 gmc/who@ R. Howser, Jr.

uw, www5 www Oct. 30, 1934- H. R. HowsER, JR

PHOTOGRAPHIC FINDER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 15, 1954 Patented Oct. 30, 1934 l v UNITED sTATEs PATENT kori-"lola 1,979,159 rno'roGnAPnIo VFINDER Harry R. Howscr, Jr., Washington, D. C. Application March 15, 1934:,` Serial No. I'715,736

18 Claims. (Ci. 95-42) The primary object of this invention is to ure 7 with the film reels and feed mechanism provide a uniaxial lens system includingan exnot shown. posure portion and a portion used exclusivelyv Figure. 9 is a front elevation of the form of for finder'purposes having a common field of moving picture camera shown in Figure '7.

view. Figure 10 is a plan of the shutter used in this oo A further object-of the invention is to provide type of camera with the lens superposed therea lens system having a portion thereof excluon -diagrammaticallysively used for finding purposes. Figure 1l is a partial vertical :section of a fold- Another 4object of the invention is to provide ing type camera showing my improved lens sys- 10 a uniaxial combined exposure and ilnder lens tem applied thereto. 65 system having a common field of view that at Figure 12 is a rear elevation of the type of all times permits critical focus for finding, irrecamera shown in Figure 1l with the ground glass spective of the light value adjustment for exback plate partly broken away to show portions posure. of the lens used for finding purposes.

A further object of the invention is to provide Figure 13 is a partial vertical section showing 70 a reflecting type camera. with a lens system that a reflector type camera t0 which my lens sysat all times permits critical focus after it has tem is applied. been stopped down for depth' of focus. Figure 14 is a vertical section partly in ele- Still another object of the invention is to vation of a conventional forni of folding camera provide# a uniaxial lens system including an exshowing another form of applying my lens sys- 75 posure portion and a finder portion having diftem thereto. f

ferent focal points but a common field of view. Figure 15 is a front elevation of the reflecting The portions may be interconnected for syn'- mirror mounted as used in the type of camera chronous critical focusing. illustrated in Figure 14. Other objects will, from the description, be ap- The advent of the anastigmat lens has made 8g parent to those skilled in the art. The present it possible to obtain a sharp image over the endisclosure constitutes an exposition of an erntire field of a lens. I subdivide this field into a bodiment of the invention, and illustrates the center portion used primarily for exposure purbest means I have thus far devised for reducing poses, although in some instances also finder the invention to practice. It is to be underpurposes, and an outer portion used exclusively 85 stood that the structural details shown and defor finder purposes. This forms a vuniaxial lens scribed shall not constitute limitations inconsystem in which both portions 'being mounted on sistent with the scope of the invention as claimed. a common principal axis have acommon field of In the drawings: f View, and the same or different focal points as 435 Figure 1 is a, front' elevation of my improved may be desired. The center portionis of a size cov normally required for the speed desired, and this requires a slightly larger diameter to provide the outer portion used solely for findingpurposes. It is a well known principle that the sur- 40 Figure 3 1s a plan View of the maskmg means face areas do .not increase in direct proportion 95 used in a reflector type camerato cut off the t th .t

tion of the lens used for finding purposes o e respec ive diameters and correspondmgiy Por f aslight increase in `diameter o f the lens .will exclflslvely 95?' the time() exposure' 1 materially increase the capacity. However, in Flgure 4 1S a' Vertical section of 9' ens sys' some instances the exposureportion vof the lens lens applied to a reflector type camera.

Figure 2 is a partial vertical section through the lens system.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary P1an- View of me may be a conventional lens ordinarily used for of theleaves of the diaphragm illustrated in finder purposes Figure 4 partly brken aWlh It will be understood that the rterin flens sys- Figure 61s a section taken 0n the 11n@ 6-6 temv used in the Vdescription of this invention of Figure l. includes a conventional arrangement of ground 105 Figure -'7 isl a partial vertical section of a glass discs preferably mounted and arrangedA moving picture camera having my improved for the desired and well knownpurpose. The lens system applied `thereto, taken on the line lens as s uch may be onepiecesubdivided usually 7--7 of Figure v9. but notnecessarily by the barrclportionorcas- Figure 8 is a section on the line 8--8 of Fging of the conventional iris type,.diap hragm..;or 110 tem illustrating a compensating diaphragm. alone may be correctedand the nder portion 00 5 for finding purposes must be segregated from those used for exposure purposes. In a reflector type camera that uses a single lens for finding and taking this segregation is only at the time of exposure. Applied to a camera normally requiring a separate finder, it is permanent.

I found that blocking off sections of the nder l portion of the lens or the finder lens does not Y materially aect the deflnitio'n of the image.

Means incorporated Within the range of vvision of these elements for supporting the type of diaphragm used, or for other purposes, do not affect the projected image on the viewing screen other than diminishing the volume .of light in @e proportion to the area blocked. The light value desired can be easily provided.

In Figures 1, 2 and 13 of the drawings there is illustrated the application of my improved lens system to a type of camera normally using` a' single lens for finding and exposure. -The lens L comprises the usual cylindrical support receiving the.properly ground glass disc focusing elements usually of the anastigmatic type-which are segregated or subdivided by a means to be hereinafter more fully described into a central portion E, through which the exposure is taken, and a circumferential portion F used exclusively for finding purposes.A Certain focusing ele'- ments may be separate, as shown in Figure 2, or ina single unit, as shown in Figure 4. It is; however, important that the center portion and-the outer portion ofthe lens have the same principal axis and a common ileld of view. The finder portion therefore surrounds the center or objective portion to form a compact assembly accomplishing this purpose. In the type of camera illustrated in these views the center -objective -or exposure portion E of the lens system also acts as a finder, but the portion F of the lens system is always exclusively used The lens L is mounted on a ring 1 secured to the front face 4 of a bellows carried by the body- 5 of the'camera. 'I'hiscamera hasrthe usual trip lever 6, shutter knobs 7, cover 8', and observing hood 9. l

As shown particularly in Figurez, the usual iris type diaphragm 10 is mounted in the cylindrical support between certain of the focusing element. For such amounting the lens elements must be cut, or made in two parts. A barrel 11 is mounted on the inner 'edge of the outerlens portion F intermediate its ends. The inner end of this barrel supports the diaphragm 10, while vits outer end is enlarged and inclined, as shown at 12, to receive indicia thereon.

A supplemental inner diaphragm operating barrel 13 carries the inner or central portion E' of the lens system intermediatevits ends. The outer end is flanged and provided with a marker cooperatingwith the indicia onthe fa'ce l2 of the innerI barrel. *'VIhe inner barrel is rotatable and its inner end is connected with the dia' phragm- 10. Rotation of vthe inner barrel will, of course, varythe diaphragm opening inthe well known manner. Y.

Thediaphragm and lensportion E isV a' size normally required for .the speed desired. vThe outer vportion lof the lens F, which is used solely for flndingjpurposes, covers what is in eilect a light opening in the face of the camera surroundingthe portion used for exposure purposes. In any type of camera the light rays passing through thelens E must be segregated from the light rays passing through the lens F for exposure. In the type camera now described this is only necessary at the time of exposure. For this purpose I have provided a masking means operable at exposure to close oiI the flnder portion. 'I'his is shown in Figure 3.

'I'he masking device is mounted in a frame 14 in the front of the bellows 4. The frame carries a plate 15, having a central opening corresponding in diameter to the lens cylinder, and aligning therewith. Upon the plate 15 is mounted a plurality of sector shaped meshing elements 16, provided with extensions 1'7, carrying studs 18. These sectors are operated through the medium of a ring 19, having a limited rotary movement. 'Ihis movement is limited by pins 20 in arcuate slots.- 21, the pins being carried by the plate 15. The ring 19 has a plurality of tangential extensions 22,' corresponding in number to thenumber of sectors 16. Each extension has a slot 23 receiving a stud 18 of its adjacent sector.

The ring is rotated by a modifled bell crank lever 24, having va slotted arm 25, engaging a pin 26 on the ring. The lever 24 is fulcrumed in the frame and has its other arm 27 extending away from the ring. On the frame is mounted an expansion spring 28 having one end engaging the lever arm 27, and exerting suillcient tension to hold the ring in the position shown in Figure 3, with the masking sectors in inoperative position. The lever is operated against the tension of the spring 28 by one end of a ilexible rod 29, secured by a bracket 30 in the frame. This rod29 is carried back through a wall 31 of the camera,- as shown in Figure 13, and a bracket 32 fastens the other end. This end of the rod is positioned in the path of movement of the usual mirror 33 of this type of camera.

As shown in Figure 3, the masking sectors 16 are withdrawn from the lens path and the diaphragm 10 is stopped downfully. In this position such a limited amount of light passes vthrough the lens E and restricted diaphragm opening that alone it would be insufficient to project a clearly deilned image by the mirror 33. However, the lfinder lens portion F is unobstructed by the diaphragm and sufllcient light passes therethroughto reflect a brilliant image on the mirror for critical focusing. As soon as the'ltrigger 6 is operated, theqmirror 33 is released,- At the limit of its movement it has engaged the inner vend of the rod 29. An operating movement. is then transmitted to the bell crank lever 2,4, and the ring 19 partially rotated. The illustrated engagement between the tangential ring extensions 22 and the sectors 18 will movethese sectors inwardly until 'their ends meet, andcombinedthey lform an annular mask for the finder lens portion F. As this occurs just preceding operation of the usual shutter, the finder light rays are segregated from the exposure light rays so as not to l destroy the proper light value set on the dia-l phragm. Upon release ofthe mirror the spring 28 returns the parts to normal position. A thumb lever 34 is-'fulcrumed in the frame and .carries a projection 35, engageable with the under side of the arm 27, to manually actuate 'the masking means when desired. permits `ofthe cylinder by radial'rods 37.

cutting ofi. the finder portion without operating the shutter for observing the depth of focus.

In Figures ,4, 5 and 6 is illustrated a modification in which a uniform light value passes through the lens system for finding purposes up to the time of exposure irrespective of the diaphragm setting. The lens L has a cylinder 34, which hasmounted therein the usual front lens and the spaced rear lens, functioning as understood. The cylinder is adapted to be secured to a camera front. A modified iris type diaphragm 35 is mounted on a supporting barrel 36, held in spaced relation to the interior The barrel subdivides the lens into the central portion E and the outer portion F for the same purpose heretofore described. The leaves 38 of the dia? and outer sides of the barrel 36. The pivots 39 are secured in outstruck portions 40 of the barrel.

The diaphragm 35 is operated by an annular rotatable ring 41, mounted on the cylinder 34,

and having an inwardly extending portionv 42v connected to an inner ring 43, housed in an enlargement 44 of the outer extension 40 ofthe diaphragm barrel 36. r['he cylinder and barrel are arcuately slotted to allow a limited movement of these parts. The ring 41 has on its frontface indicia 45 adaptedto cooperate with a stationary marker 46 on the cylinder. The diaphragm assembly is mounted ony an inner sleeve 47, carrying the rods 37, and is rigidly secured to the cylinder by set screws 48.

It is obvious that this construction maintains a constant light value passing through the lens system. Variations of the diaphragm opening for the central portion of the lens E are compensated in the outer portion F. As the central diaphragm opening is made smaller or larger, the light opening surrounding'the bar# rel 36 is correspondingly increased or decreased. This compensating means Aalways maintains a constant light value for critical focusing irrespective of the diaphragm setting by movement of the ring 41. The supporting rods 37 are invisible on the projected image. Of course, upon exposure the masking means previously described mask the outer finder portion F of the lens and -the exposure` is made through the properly set diaphragm opening.

As I have found that, in utilizing the outer portion of a lens system exclusively for finding purposes, blocking of an appreciable portion does not affect its use, the generic principle of this invention is applicable to other types of camera than that previously described. Figures 7;'8, 9 and 10 show the application to a mov- .ing picture camera.

The usual camera is provided with a nlm portion 49 and an offset housing 50 containing the 4operating mechanism. Winding and feed reels with the usual exposure opening 57.

Within `the portion `49, Q f the camera, is a' light box or segregator 58, positioned between the reels 51, and having a front face 59 backing the guide slide 55. The front face 59 is provided with a pair of spaced vertical slots 60 that are spaced apart a slightlygreater width than the width of the film 52. The light box 58 terminates rearwardly in' an opening in the .rear wall of the camera portion 49, and has positioned therein a tubular sleeve 61, carrying a screen 62 and inverting lens 63. A slight opening 64 is provided at the rear end of the tubular sleeve 61. l

The front face of the camera has a face plate 65 'of thesame size as the 'corresponding portion of the shutter housing. This plate has an interiorly threaded opening 66 in which is mounted the lens system L. The lens system is subdivided or segregated into a central objective or exposure portion E and an outer finder portion F. The outer finder portion is mounted in an annular spaced two-part casing 67 externally threaded for engagement with the face plate opening 66. The optical element illustrated is a simple form of lens, but anastigmatic compound lens .may be used if desired. The inner portion of the casing 67 is internally threaded. Mounted through'the same is the ob- Jective or exposure portion of the lens E, which comprises a casing'68, carrying therein the usual ground 'glass elements and also a diaphragm 69, operated by an annular ring 70. Intermediate its ends the casing is externally threaded at 7l for engagement with the internal threads on the support 67. This arrangement supports the inner and outer portions of the lens system L, on a. common principal axis. The Shutter housing 54 has a forwardly extending tubular extension 72, surrounding the barrel of the lens E. The rear portion of the casing 68 slidably engages this extension and has a pin and slot connection therewith for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

As illustrated in Figure 9, the lens system L is at one side of the axis of the shutter. This relationship is diagrammatically shown in Figure 10. Surrounding its Aaxis and spaced linwardly from the film exposure opening 57 inthe shutter is a series of openings 73; spider 'arms 74 connecting the inner and outer portions of the shutter'. The shutter normally closes the objective or exposure center portion'E, except at periods of exposure, but peripherially leaves a section of the finder portion F permanently open at one side, and the openings 74 leave a section substantially permanentlyopen at the other. These sections are in alignment with'the vertical slots 60 of the light box 58.

.By the arrangement above noted the lens system L is adapted tobe applied to a motion picture camera. The light rays used for finding purposes passing through lthe"uninterrupted portions of the lens portion-F are permanently segregated from the exposure rays passing through the lens portion E. Light rays pass through the outer casing 67 and optical element therein in suiiicient quantitiesvfor finding and focusing purposes. Theypass through the slots 60 into thelight boxA 58 where the elements in the sleeve 61 will display the image when observed through the sight opening 64. With appropriately ground lens portions E and F, having a common principal axis, the image will be observed on a common held of view with the exposure portion.

Dueto the fact thelens portion E and the lens portion F have different focal points when applied to this type of camera, I have provided means whereby the focusing of one portionv automatically focuses the other. The outer portion of the lens support 67 has a threaded engagement with the face plate opening 66, and is adapted to be moved in and out of the same. Due to the lfact the supporting casings 67l and 68 have a threaded coupling 71, movement is transmitted to the inner portion of. the lens. 'I'his movement, due to the pin and slot connection between the shutter housing extension 72 and the inner end of 68, is a sliding one. The threaded coupling 7l has threads of a different pitch." The variance in the movement controlled by difference in pitch of the threads automatically focuses the outer and inner portions of the lens. Thus it will be seen that adjustment of the finder portion F by moving the casing 67 in or out of the face plate will automatically vadjust theobjective or exposure inner portion E. Various other mechanisms may beemployed to accomplish this result, the form described being merely illustrative.

In Figures 11 and 12 I have shown the application of this type of' lens system to another camera of a conventional type. The camera body 75 ,carries the usual spools 76, operated by knobs 77, over which the film strip '78 is wound. A sight opening 79 permits identification of the exposures. A conventional focal plane shutter 80 is-arranged therein having the usual tension adjusting knob 81 and tension indicator 82. A trigger 83 operates the shutter. A lightproof illm cover 84 is positioned in the camera Abody and encloses the film strip except at the exposure opening point. The camera show n is of the folding type and has an extensible rear wall 85,'carrying a screen 86, and hingedly connected at 87 to the camera body. A bellows 88 is arranged between the extensible wall and.

`of a front plate 89 hingedly connected at 90 to the camera, body. The usual bellows 91 is provided.` The lens system is substantially of the type described in Figure 7, and comprises an outer lens portion support 92 hingedly coupled by variably pitched threads to the innerlens support 93. 'I'he inner camera face has a tubular extension 94 cooperatively engaging the inner end of the support 93 to prevent rotation thereof but to permit a sliding movement.

With the camera arranged as shown in Figure 11, the lightrays passing through the portions of the lens F of the system that are not interrupted by the nlm cover 84 areprojected on the view screen 86.l This projects anl image having a common neld oi' view to the exposure portion E of the lens system. As diagrammatically shown, the image is projected lnverted, but .this may be corrected by conven- 95 has the usual plate containerl 96, front bellowsv 97. and shutter trip 98. 'Ihe lens system L secured to the front thereof includes the outer nnder lens-portion F and inner exposure portion E. Mounted upon the casing supporting the portion E is a ilxed inclined semi-circular mirror 99 adapted to reect an image on4 the screen 100. A light shade 101 is hingedly mounted on a portion of the lens system and cooperates with the screen L. The portion of the lens F that cooperates with the mirror 99 is shown diagrammatically at Figure 15.

With this construction the upper half of-the light rays -passing through the portion F of the lens systemare reflected upwardly to the viewing screen to project the common image viewed thereon. VThe remaining rays are not used. This arrangement permits a iinder'screen to be immovably directly connected tothe lens i system, and all of the advantages derived from the system previously described are present therein. j

The various disclosures noted permit the use in all types of cameras of a photographic uniaxial lens system having a common eld of view adapted for finding purposes and not affected by light value variations due to diaphragm ad` justments. In the reflector type camera this was heretofore impossible because the diaphragm adjustment for depth of focus destroyed' critical focus on the single lens used. In cameras using a separate finder parallax variation between the exposure lens and the finder lens prevented a common iield of view.

Iclaim: I al 1. A photographic lens system having a porposes, and means for varying the eective area of the remaining portion while the area ofthe finder portion remains constant.

2. In combination with a camera, a sub-l divided combined objective and iinding lens, a variable diaphragm controlling a portion of the lens, and means for masking the remaining por tion of the lens during exposure.

3. In'combination with a' camera, a subdivided combined objective and nding lens, a variable compensating diaphragm maintaining a constant light value passing through the lens at any variation, and means for masking the portion of the lens used solely for findingonly during exposure. A4. A combined objective and ilnding lens system having a diaphragm, a means whereby the amount' of light passing through the lens systemfor sighting or nnding purposes is constant irrespective of the diaphragm opening.. p

5. The combination with a reflecting type camera having a mirror, a lens system including an adjustable diaphragm and having a portion of the lens exclusively used for finding purposes surrounding the diaphragm... and Ymeans sor.. y masking the exclusive nder portion ofthe lens upon movement of the mirror.

6. In combination a camera, a uniaxial lens system-having a portion thereof exclusively used for finding purposes, and means'for segregating the image projected by said portion from the image projected by for exposure.

7. In combination a camera, an objective lens the remainder of thelens having a light opening peripheral tothe same,v

and a finder lens uniaxial with the objective lens arranged in saidopening.

8. In combination' a camera, a subdivided uniaxial lenssystem for projecting an imagev on a light sensitive substance andan. image on a screen for nding purposes, and'means for segregating said images for a iinder portion having the same principal axis,

and means-for segregating the image projected by the objective portion for exposure.

11. In combination a camera, a photographic lens system including an exposure lens and ay peripherally mounted finder lens, and means for segregating the image projected by the exposure v lens for exposure.

12. A combined photographic and finding lens system having means for maintaining a light value suiilcient to project a brilliant image for .finding purposes when the lens portion is stopped down for depthoi' focus.

13. In combination a camera, a photographic lens system including. an objective lens and a.

nder lens having the same principal axis, means for'segregating the images projected by said lenses for exposure, and means for sighting through'any portion o! the nnder lens during exposure through the objective lens.

14.V In combination a camera, a -uniaxial lens exposure.

system including an exposure portion and a portion used solely for ilnding purposes having a common ileld of view, and means for segregating the image projected by the exposure portion for exposure.

15. In combination a camera, a uniaxial photographic lens system having means therein for dividing the light rays passing therethrough into a nnding A.group and an exposure group,v and means for segregating said groups so that the projected images will be separated for exposure.

16. In combination a camera, a. lens system including a nder lens portion and an objective lens portion mounted on the same principal axis, said lens portions havingdifferent focal lengths, and `means for segregatingthe images projected by each of said portions. 1

17. In combination a camera, a uniaxial pho-` tographic lens system including a ilnder lens and an exposure lens havingv a common field of view, and means for temporarily segregating the separate images projected by said system during exposure.

18. In combination a camera, a uniaxial lens system for projecting separate images. and means for permanently segregating said images so one may be used for nnding and the other for Vfumar R. HowsER, Jn.

rilo 

